Materials handling machines



Oct. 29; .1957 F. w. FENTON 2,811,240

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINES Filed Nov. '9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. FRANK W. FENTON ATTO RN EY Oct. 29, 1957 F. w. FENTON2,811,240

MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINES Filed NOV- 9, 1953 2 sheets-Sheet 2 [H 7 Q/:N\

FIG.6

INVENTOR.

FRANK W. FENTON BYQWWM ATTORNEY 2,811,249 p MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINESFrank W. Fenton, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Beacon Production EquipmentCorporation, Centreville Township, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,905 1 Claim. (Cl. 198- 221)This invention relates in general to materials handling equipment and,moreparticularly, to a machine for receiving and charging ready stackedmaterial into storage compartments.

Heretofore the removal of heavy, bulky material, such as for examplesteel sheet, from flat cars, trucks, and the like, and disposing of samein stacked relation in warehouse storage bins which may be located atpoints considerably elevated abovefloor level has customarily requiredthe labor of numerous workmen during extended periods of time. Even withthe use of cranes for raising the sheet from the ground to the height ofthe particular receiving bin the orderly stacking of the same withinsuch compartments has been a very difficult and laborious procedure.

to provide a device which is adapted to receive material for stackingthereon, as sheets in superimposed relation, and which includes meansfor quickly and effectively dis charging the thus stacked materialtherefrom into a storage receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter stated which is compactly constructed for pick-up in fullyloaded condition by a crane and having means for engaging elements ofthe loadreceiving compartment for proper alignment therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter stated which is adapted for effective use with materials ofvarying dimensions and Weights.

A further object is to provide a bin loading machine which may beeconomically manufactured; which is reliable and durable in operation;and by the use of which marked economy in labor may be effected.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a materials handling machineconstructed in accordance with and embodying the present inventionshowing the machine in operative position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view.

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse section taken on the line 44 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a partial horizontal transverse section on the line 6-6 ofFigure 3.

Referring now to Figure l, A broadly designates a materials handlingmachine comprising an elongated main frame, preferably of channel stock,including a rearward and forward end pair of uprights 1, 2,interconnected by transverse members 3, 4, respectively. Locatedbetween, and aligned with, the end uprights are longitudinallyspaced-pairs of uprights 5, 6, respectively. Secured, as by Welding, tothe upper ends of uprights 5, 6, are transverse taken.

States Patent' O Therefore, it is a primary object of the presentinvention .30

2,811,240 Patented Oct. 29,

frame members 7, 8, respectively, which project at their endstherebeyond. A horizontal support member 9 is rigidly secured to upright2, and projects at its ends therebeyond for alignment at its outerextremities with the respective ends of transverse members 7, 8. Arelatively short horizontal member 9' is fixedly secured to each upright1 and projects at one end beyond the associated upright for alignment atits outer extremity with the adjacent ends of transverse members 7, 8.At their opposite or inner ends, members 9' terminate outwardly of thecenter line of the machine for reasons presently appearing. Mounted uponthe outer end portions of transverse members 7, 8, and horizontalmembers 9, 9, are side members 10, 10', which extend from end to end ofmachine A. Also fixed upon transverse members 7, 8, and horizontalmembers 9, 9', in adjacency, and parallel, to each side member 10,10, isa pair of longitudinally disposed channel members 11, 12, and 11, 12',respectively, extending the length of machine A; being presented withtheir channels opening toward each other, with the upper surfaces oftheir upper flanges being planarwise aligned to provide a load supportsurface, indicated at 13 (Figure 2). It is obvious that, if desired, theload support surface 13 could be constructed in any suitable manner,such as including a plate or the like. However, the provision ofsurface-aligned, spaced channel flanges has been found completelyeffective and most economical in construction.

Intermediate, and parallel to, the channel pairs 11, 12, 11,12, there isprovided a pair of channel members 14, 14, which are rigid upontransverse members 7, 8, and horizontal members 9, 9, and also extendingfrom end ICC to end of machine A. Channel members 14, 14', are ofrelatively reduced Width so that the upper flanges thereof-. arepresented downwardly of the corresponding flanges of the adjacentchannels 11, 12, 11', 12, and are presented in confronting relationshipso that the lower flanges thereof provide a trackway 15.

Provided for traverse along trackway 15 is a carriage thereon taperedrollers 22 which render carriage 16 mobile along trackways 15 (Figure4). Base plate 18 extends laterally beyond channels 14, 14, and intravel of carriage 16 will move across the upper surfaces thereof.

For rigidifying purposes a short top plate section 17' is provided.

Intermediate and axially parallel to stub shafts 21 is a rod 23 fixed atits ends in plates 20 (Figure 3). Secured to rod 23 is an end of acenter cable 24 and side cables 25. Center cable 24 extends rearwardlyfrom carriage 16, guided by a peripheral groove 24' in rearward stubshaft 21, for extension about a sheave 26 centrally disposed on i a rod27 engaged at its ends in end uprights 1. From sheave 26 cable 24extends forwardly along a path substantially parallel to the center lineof machine A for 1 training about a sheave 28 mounted on a bar 29secured on a clevis member 30 which is suitably carried upon the outerend of a piston rod 31 of a fluid cylinder 32. Center cable 24 isrearwardly returned from sheave 28 for an: i choring at its end totransverse member 3, as by an eye I bolt. Side cables 25 extendforwardly along machine A for respective extension about spaced sheaves33 engaged upon a rod 34 secured at. its ends to a plate 35 weldedlyengaged to each end upright 2. From sheaves 33, side 36 mounted onclevis bar 29'on either side of sheave 28;

therefrom side cables-25 progress forwardly for suitable anchoring oftheir ends on crossmenrber 28', extending between legs Other flexible,elongated means, such as chains, could be as readily used in lieu of thecable's, Fluid'cylinder 32 is mai'ntaine'd on supports 37, and extendsintermediate legs 5 and 6, with its forward'end secured as by aclevis-type mounting on transverse member 4. Said cylinder isoperatively connected to a pump 38 driven by a motor 39 mounted on aplatform 40 provided laterally of, and adjacent to, uprights 5, 6,'bymeans of longitudinally spaced uprights 41, 42', secured, as by welding,at their upper ends to transverse members 7 8, respectively, and attheir lower ends to each. other by a longitudinal section 43 parallel tosimilar sections 44, '45, between legs 5, 6, for mounting thereon aplatform support member 45. Securedto the. lowerfflanges of each channel11, 12,. andlll', 12 and extending between each pair is an angle member46 (Figurel) to the vertical portion of which is secured a bearingcollar 47 for a transverse rod 48, being threaded at each end portion,as at 49, 50, for engagement within collars 51, 51, respectively, weldedto the lower portions adjacent each end of upwardly projecting sideguides 52, 52, which extend a substantial distance along machine Arespectively between side members 10, and channels 12, 12'. Engaged onone projecting end of each rod 48 is a crank 53 by operation of whichguides 52, 52', may be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to theload support surface 13 to provide lateral support for material receivedthereon. It is, of course, obvious that, if desired, one crank 53 may beeliminated and its rod operated by the other crank through suitablemotion transmitting means.

Engaged at the forward end of a machine A and on each side thereof is avertical plate member 54 fixed on the end portion of each member 10, 10,and having a series of vertically spaced, hook-forming recesses 55 forengagement on bars 58 suitably presented at the opening of storage binsor compartments, indicated B in the drawings. The forward and rearwardends of the main frame are respectively strengthened by braces 59.

For purposes more fully described hereinbelow, machine A is adapted forpick-up by a crane C or related device through means of chains 60aflixed on machine A in any desired manner and at proper loaddistribution points. Crane C may be operated from lift trucks, as wellas from overhead means located within the particular building.

In usage, machine A is presented, as by a crane, in immediate adjacencyto the support for the material to be serviced. Such material may be ofany type or character, regardless of bulk, size or the like, as metalsheets, various metal shapes, lumber, rolled rugs, etc. Thus, machine Amay be presented proximate a barge, a railway flat car, a trailer truck,or a storage location, from whence the material is lifted by a crane anddeposited upon load support surface 13. Side guides 52, 52', areproperly adjusted for the particular material being accommodated. Whenthe load limit of machine A has been reached, the crane is suitablyengaged to said machine, as by chains 60, and machine A with its loadraised and transported by the crane to the particular bin or storagepoint for receiving the load. Machine A is presented to the compartmentor bin opening for engagement of hooks 55 on bar 58 so that inadvertentmovement of machine A away from the bin will be avoided during the loaddischarging operation. With machine A thus positioned, the operator willcause fluid cylinder32 to be actuated for movement of piston rod 31rearwardly or into extended position. Such action will produce a pullingeffect upon side cables 25, with consequent travel of carriage or pusher16 forwardly along trackways 15.

Forward plate 17 of carriage 16 will engage the load and push sameforwardly as carriage 16 moves along machine A, thus effecting dischargeof the same into the receiving compartment in fully stacked condition.After carriage 16 reaches the forward extent of its travel, the actionof pump 38 will be reversed through any conventional means to causepiston rod 31 to move reciprocatingly forwardly or into retractedposition, whereby a pull upon center cable 24 is eflfected and carriage16 is moved returningly rearwardly to its initial or starting position,

. adjacent the rearward end of machine A. Thus, a single withdrawal.

Upon completion of the bin loading operation, the crane is suitablyoperated so that disengagement between hook-like recesses from bars 58is effected and machine A is then returned to position for furtherloading. It will be seen that by the use of machine A a single operatorcan unload and store during a single working day vast quantities ofmaterial which heretofore have required the labor of numerous workmenover extended periods of time. Machine A is adapted to easily loadcompartments regardless of their particular location in a warehouse.Those which are in elevated positions are serviced in as facile a manneras those at more accessible points.

Machine A is comprised of a simplicity of parts thereby the same isdurable and reliable for continuous operation throughout long periods oftime without costly maintenance. The same may be economically producedand can be effectively operated by relatively unskilled personnel. I

The details of construction can be varied without departing from thespirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modificationscoming within the scope of the claims contemplated.

What is claimed is:

A machine for handling heavy sheet material in stacked relationcomprising an elongated frame having a plurality of transverselyextending, spaced apart support members, a plurality of channel-shapedmembers mounted on said support members in axially perpendicularrelationship thereto and extending the length of said frames, saidvchannel-shaped members being spaced apart with their upper flanges insurface alignment to provide a load-support surface, a pusher memberhaving rollers and being adapted for reciprocal travel of said framelongitudinally thereof to impel loads across said load-support surfacefor discharge therefrom, guides for said pusher member rollers locatedcentrally of said frame and parallel with said channel-shaped members,the upper surface of said guides being located below the upper flangesof said channel-shaped members, said pusher having a work-engaging,upstanding plate section projecting above said channelshaped members, acenter and a pair of side elongated, flexible members, each being fixedat one of their ends to said pusher member, said center flexible memberextending rearwardly in substantially parallel relation to the axis ofsaid guides, directing means provided on the rearward end of said framefor directing said center flexible member forwardly beneath the underportion of said frame, directing means also located at the forward endof said frame for directing said side flexible members rearwardlybeneath said frame, a fluid cylinder mounted on said frame beneath saidguides and carrying a piston rod, means for effecting longitudinalreciprocal movement of said piston rod, a plurality of sheave membersrotatable about a common, horizontal axis carried on saidpiston rod,saidcenter flexible member being rod and thence led rearwardly therefromfor securement at its other end to the rearward portion of the underframe, said side flexible members each being trained 4 about a sheavemember on said piston rod and being led forwardly therefrom with theirends being fixedly secured 5 to the under portion of said frame spacedlyforwardly of the point of securement of the corresponding end of saidcenter flexible member, whereby upon actuation of said piston rod in onedirection of its movement a pulling force will be applied on said centerflexible member to cause rearward travel of said pusher, While actuationof said piston rod in the other direction of its travel will cause apulling force to be applied on said side flexible members to effectforward, work-operating movement of said pusher.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chaseet a1. May 16, Starks Jan. 13, Tansill Sept. 10, Phillips Dec. 19, ClausOct. 7, Kullerstrand May 25, Paiement May 11, Hodges Apr. 1, McGinleySept. 1, Murphy Sept. 22, Avery Jan. 18, Feucht Mar. 15,

FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Feb. 5,

